Rick Perry ad: Obama comments "pathetic," positions "socialist"

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Campaign 2012

Rick Perry's presidential campaign is out with a new ad, "Lazy," attacking President Obama for his comment that Americans have "been a little bit lazy I think over the last couple of decades."

After video of the president making that comment is shown in the ad, Perry, standing outside in a casual shirt, addresses the camera. "Can you believe that?" he says. "That's what our President thinks wrong with America? [sic] That Americans are lazy? That's pathetic." (Perry appears to have omitted an "is" from his comments.)

Perry goes on to say "it's time to clean house in Washington," an argument that squares with his recent call to overhaul all three branches of government, a proposal that includes making being a member of Congress a part-time job.

"It's time for a Balanced Budget Amendment that forces Washington to stop overspending," Perry goes on to say. "If Congress balks, cut their pay and send them home."

He then complains that "Obama's socialist policies are bankrupting America," adding: "We must stop him now."

The Perry campaign says the 30-second spot is airing on national cable and on broadcast television in Iowa; CBS News saw it on Fox News Wednesday afternoon.

The ad marks the latest foray in the Perry campaign's effort to reboot the Texas governor's candidacy after a string of poor debate performances - capped off by the now-infamous "oops" moment - that have helped drive down his standing in the polls.

Perry now polls in the single digits in national polls, though his substantial war chest means he can spend millions of dollars in advertising in an effort to improve his standing before voters head to the polls. His campaign is becoming increasingly focused on the first-in-the-nation voting state of Iowa, which caucuses on January 3, in the hope that a strong finish could generate some much-needed momentum.

Rick Perry seeks to reboot after "oops" moment

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by boondoggles November 18, 2011 6:57 PM EST: Perry has more character than Obama could shake a stick at. We know nothing about the POTUS past really because the liberal media has it hidden. Had they vetted their candidate Obama our country would certainly be in better shape. Right after he won office he sealed his college records. How is that for transparency? Some of you have the outright gall to mention Perrys GPA when Obamas GPA to this day is still not known. Hows that for transparency? Your wonder boy is lost without his teleprompter which leads many to assume he has no clue. Oh, he thinks we have 57 states. Hawaii is a Asian nation in his estimation. LOL.; Reply to this comment

by johndevinejr November 18, 2011 12:29 PM EST

Perry deliberately edits Obama's comments to make it seem like he was saying something that he did not say. Perry is so stupid that, apparently, he doesn't realize that Obama's full statement is very easy to find, it was actually broadcast on CBS News last night.

This clearly shows how blatantly dishonest Perry, the Evagelical Christian is.

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by T_Velocity November 18, 2011 5:49 PM EST: because he knows that 50% of republicans don't think, and will believe anything he tells them...not enough to win the election, but maybe enough to win the nomination.


by RushSmith November 18, 2011 10:16 AM EST: Perry is the longest continuously serving current U.S. governor. Perry graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science with a 2.5 GPA. What a joker from Republican party of cartoons.; Reply to this comment


by sailrick November 17, 2011 9:42 PM EST: Calling Obama socialist is idiotic, as any rational person would know.

This habit among the far right extremists, of calling everything they don't like socialist, is moronic. My guess is that 99.9% of progressives are not socialists. People making those accusations don't even know what socialism is or isn't.

Every successful economy in the world is a mixed economy - capitalism with social programs and labor support.
The difference between a conservative and a progressive is about regulated capitalism verses unregulated capitalism. It is not capitalism verses socialism. Mixed economies have regulated capitalism because it's what works. Every time this country has moved toward unregulated capitalism, it has ended in disaster for most Americans. The wealth is funneled into fewer and fewer hands, just like we have under the past 30 years of Reaganomics.
The same thing happened in the late 1800s period of robber barrons, and again in the 1920s, causing the great depression, just like it caused the current economic mess.

An economy dominated by huge corporations that employ armies of lobbyists and lawyers, and who own the news media, and who have huge sums of money to spend on lobbying and advertising,
and who basically control our government, - is NOT at free market.; Reply to this comment

by euge005 November 17, 2011 4:04 PM EST

And as usual when these claims are made it was debunked as the dishonest fraud it was. Perry editted the clip to hid the rest of the sentance and misrepresent the President's very accurate comment on selling Amerian products over seas. Perry has no place in public office at any levbel based on dishonesty and low 90's IQ.

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by ruffiannd November 17, 2011 5:04 PM EST: Well it tells us one thing - it tells us Perry acknowledges his base is a bunch of retards.


by sailrick November 17, 2011 9:49 PM EST: well said.


by blakemanion November 17, 2011 12:14 PM EST: Rick Perry isn't the only forgetful one! His campaign advisor and his wife are too, haha hilarious: http://youtu.be/2aYYaZB8Et0; Reply to this comment


by franknkissy November 17, 2011 10:33 AM EST: Amen Bro ...! as reverend ike used to say - the problem isn't money - rather lack of money ! which our greedy rich boys are holding close to their chest ! investing in china & india - believing them to be the coming winners - not white & black & red & brown & yellow christian americans ! .......so pray and practice charity and maybe we may hold off these wealthy spoiled children from selling us all out ! Frank - Paz Intercesor !; Reply to this comment


by RespectOthersAlways November 17, 2011 9:37 AM EST: When everything else fails, attack Obama. What a country! Rick (I cann't count to three) Perry cannot debate ideas, but he sure knows how to read an attack ad. What a sharp operator.; Reply to this comment

by LoadedAndDangerous November 17, 2011 6:19 AM EST

Obama was talking about lazy Liberals on Welfare sucking the taxpayers dry.

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by ruffiannd November 17, 2011 7:19 AM EST: Unless you actually watched the interview... then he wasn't.


by ruffiannd November 17, 2011 12:24 AM EST: Oh my God. Perry took a snippet completely out of context (Obama was talking about trade policy) and is using it to fire up the moron Tbaggers. He will succeed of course (these folks are not exactly nuclear physicists), but that's as far as it will go. The rest of the public will just see it as really really slimy... just like Perry.; Reply to this comment